A better priesthood
Our Great High Priest pt. 3 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
intro
intro
2 Sabbaths, we introduced the book of Hebrews studying through chapters 1-2. We first established Jesus to be our Savior and why He is worthy of this title. We laid the foundation
Last week, we really dove in in chapters 3-6. Examining why Jesus is the only one who can serve as our high priest, one who is our judge and advocate. We see how Jesus was different from any levite priest as he was the only high priest who was not guilty himself, but rather carried our sins. We wetted the appetite for what is to come in todays message Pausing on Hebrews chapters 7. Examining what is actually taking place in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
It started with a promise to Abraham. We read this passage last week but we will again this morning,
change slide
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
We have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, Where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever…
and I’ll get to Melchizedek in a second,
but if the imagery being described here isn’t bringing clear to mind the sanctuary practices of the old Testament, we’ve been missing the context. God’s people had long practiced the sacrificial system and understood the day of atonement. The one day of the year the high priest would sacrifice and enter into the most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. “Inside the Veil,” is a reference to entering into the Most Holy Place. (when? and for what purpos, is what we will need to talk some more out.)
What is being described is Jesus taking on the role of High Priest, and the cleansing of the Sanctuary (what that means).
One thing to note, do you think Heaven’s sanctuary is based on the one The Israelites traveled with on Earth, or was the Earthly sanctuary based on the one in Heaven.?
The text says, Jesus has gone to the inner place behind the veil on our behalf. What is happening on our behalf?
Before we go further, lets take time to pray.
As we dive in, for this morning’s purposes, as todays theme can get a bit wordy and technical, my goal is not to go super in depth into the practices of the sacrificial system and the functions of the levitical priest. My hope is to establish what their purpose was, and What Jesus’ purpose is as high priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
As we come to Hebrews 7, after a long exhortation, the author of Hebrews picks up the discussion where he left off in chapter 5, Jesus is proclaimed by the Father as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. This priesthood being proclaimed as something greater than that of the Levetical system, and we already established last week Jesus’ worthiness exceeding any Earthly high priest. He is in the order of Melchizedek.
It’s interesting, a part from the book of Hebrews, Melchizedek is only mentioned 2 other times in the Bible, first in Genesis 14:17-20 when Melchizedek, described as the King of Salem, and priest of the Most High God, gives a blessing over Abram, and whom Abram tithes to him out of everything he has.
Melchizedek’s order of priesthood is referenced later in Psalms and it is his order of priesthood which is described in Hebrews, referencing this verse in Psalms.
change slide
There is also Psalms 110:4
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
In Hebrews, the author quotes and alludes to this Psalms verse 7 times between chapters 5-7.
Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:15, 17; Hebrews 7:20-21; Hebrews 7:24; Hebrews 7:28
These verses present Jesus was designated OR inaugurated as high priest as Aaron had been before serving as High Priest. It also distinguishes Jesus would be the final high priest forever. This would be an eternal office divinely appointed.
change slide
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
change slide
Melchizedek has fascinated/baffled scholars and theologians alike, as his specialness doesn’t seem really engage much thought in the Genesis account accept, although his lineage has no ties to Abraham’s, and he was a king a priest of Salem, he is described as a priest of the most high God. It’s also interesting to see Hebrews author describe Melchizedek as without parentage and without geneolagy. There was nothing in Genesis to suggest that Melchizedek was anyone other than another human, but then you read the description in Hebrews 7 and it almost seems to imply, maybe the Melchizedek in Genesis was actually Jesus. This is certainly a line of thinking by some. Most SDA scholars have not drawn that conclusion.
So who is Melchizedek? Why is he important?
To answer those questions we need to also ask why the author of Hebrews would have Melchizedek be mentioned at all? What function does he play here in the text? Could he also be a divine being?
The following is a paraphrase from the Seventh-day Adventist Biblical Research institure.
1. Function of Melchizedek in Hebrews 7?: The apostle’s purpose is to demonstrate that Christ’s priesthood is superior to that of Aaron. The priesthood of Melchizedek becomes important in the argument because Christ was not from the tribe of Levi, and therefore He could not have functioned as priest according to the law. The Bible already pointed to a priesthood that was not based on genealogical records. Psalm 110:4 predicts that the Aaronic priesthood was to be superseded by the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek in the person of the Messiah.
2. Melchizedek as a Historical Figure: The apostle clearly sees in Melchizedek a person who lived during the time of Abram. In Hebrews 7:1 he was king of Salem, the ancient name of the city of Jerusalem (Ps. 76:2), and he was also a priest. He met Abram after Abram’s victorious battle, blessed him, and Abram gave him tithe (Heb. 7:2). The apostle proceeds to argue that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Aaron’s because Melchizedek blessed Abram (the “blesser” being greater than the “blessee”).
3. A Divine Being? The phrase “without father or mother” was also employed to describe orphans, illegitimate children, or persons whose origin was unknown. So the phrase by itself does not prove that Melchizedek was divine.
Second it is most probable that by adding the remark “without genealogy” the apostle is clarifying what he meant by “without father or mother,” namely, that we do not have Melchizedek’s genealogical records. A conclusion is drawn from that absence of data, and it is that conclusion that complicates the issue: Melchizedek is “without beginning of days or end of life.” He does not seem to be a normal human being.
Third, the dilemma could be solved by looking at the last part of Hebrews 7:3: “Like the Son of God he remains a priest forever” (N IV). A more literal translation would be “But having been made like/similar to the Son of God, he remains priest for all time/perpetually.” This sentence is added to qualify the assertion “without beginning of days or end of life.” He is not eternal in his own right, but in the narrative Melchizedek is made to resemble the Son of God, the only one who truly remains priest forever. Melchizedek is like Christ in the sense that Scripture does not provide any record of his birth, his genealogy, or his death. That absence of this information in the biblical account is used by the apostle to liken Melchizedek to Christ, who is indeed eternal.
Therefore, the priest and king of Salem becomes a symbol of the true priest, the Son of God, who is the originator of an eternal priesthood that is not determined by genealogical records. The apostle interpreted the priesthood of Melchizedek in terms of the announcement of the eternal priesthood of the Messiah in Psalm 110:4 and by the fact that the Messianic prophecy was fulfilled in Christ. Melchizedek was an anticipatory historical figure, a reflection of the true heavenly high priest, the Son of God.
While somewhat confusing in 21st century language, as we study this thought process, we understand Melchizedek’s mentioning as his order of priesthood is described as even greater than the line carried out by Aaron. While less descriptive the Biblical author asserts The order of Melchizedek was a better than the Levitical priestly order. Readers of the old testament could quickly observe the corruption that existed within the priests. One could argue the priests of Israel paralleled the people of Israel wandering from God, blending with paganism, repenting, but also continuing in sin. There was corruption. The priests in Jesus day had fallen far from the ideals originally instituted.
CHANGE SLIDE
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
The “if” of verse 11 introduces a contrary-to-fact condition, that is, the very prediction of a new priesthood shows the levitical one was not perfect. He implies Psalm 110:4 as a prophecy for a new and better priesthood. It is one that would not be corrupted, and one in which the high priest is truly worthy. Once again the author is laying the foundational layers for Jesus to be High priest. The author denies perfection possible even for the high priest in the old order. This is what I believe is meant by the reference to a “change in the law” in verse 12. Because the old priesthood, in which genealogy is crucial, would be superceded by a new one in which Christ would serve as high priest. In this passage the law refers to regulations concerning the old order, that is the order which had to be born from the line of Levi, not to the moral law of the ten commandments.
change slide
We continue
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
The Andrews Bible commentary writes:
The author is building his argument about the priesthood of Christ on two inter-locking facts— one of which is evidently clear ( in verse 14) and the other even more clear in verse 15. Both of these statements reach back to his assertion that a change in priesthood, necessitates a change in the law. He brings forward two facts to establish this assertion. The first is the fact that Christ “our Lord” came lineage wise from the tribe of Judah, of which Moses had indicated nothing of a priesthood. The second is the prophecy in Psalm 110:4 of a priest who would arise not because of a geneaology but on the basis of the power of and endless, indestructible life.
You are losing me Pastor—-your getting wordy—-why should I care?
Saints what happened when Christ died on the cross? What does the gospel of Matthew tell us?
change slide
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
When Christ died, immediately the veil into the Earthly sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. This was signaling and end of sacrificial system, which had always been pointing to the lamb of God, the saviour coming and laying down his life for ours. It also signaled the end of one priesthood order and signalling of a new and better one.
We’ve established this in prior messages but its something addressed often throughout the New Testament letters when talking about the Jewish believers, the hebrews whom this letter, but one consistent message relayed to them, “the special people” are no longer of simply of the lineage of Israel, but this new chosen people would be known as followers of Christ. The Christians. The elitism and superiority that had once been felt was to be done away. This new body of believers was literally commissioned by Jesus to make new disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father, son, and holy Spirit.
Do you know it? That includes you and me, we have a special calling to make disciples. We are not special by birthright. We are special by accepting Jesus as our savior and proclaiming Him as Lord to the world!
CHANGE SLIDE
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’ ”
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
It is good for us to understand this because the reality is this was the plan. This was the plan of salvation. All the way back at the fall in Genesis a plan of salvation was established. God did not come un prepared for the world’s greatest conflict, we know as the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. The Earthly sanctuary and sacrificial system of the levitical priestly order was established to point people to the coming of the savior, eventually a better priesthood which would not and could not be corrupted.
CHANGE SLIDE
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
I love verse 25: He is able to save to the uttermost (The maximum) those who would draw close to Him, and because of his permanence, He lives to make intercession for them! (us)
Try try try and earn salvation, you will always fall short, yet Jesus, the unblemished high priest wants you in the kingdom! His job is literally to intercede on your behalf. He’s aware of your shortcomings and still wants you anyways. And you know talk is cheap, Jesus is literally the way, the truth, and the Life. We’ve already established his worthiness but the following texts will display this again.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
My friends, I hope it has been made clear that Jesus loves you. If He didn’t wouldn’t it have been so much easier to wipe away humanity at the Fall in Genesis, and just start again?
Jesus is putting on full display His love for humanity. He has proven time and time again his worthiness. Although we are guilty, He is interceding for us. This is the sanctuary message. This is the better priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek. This is the plan of salvation enacted.
Pastor is there more? Oh you better there is more! But it is all hopeful and hope-filled!
Pastor our church teaches about something called the investigative judgment—— that sounds a little scary. We’re going to talk about that soon, as we just laid the foundation for a more complete understanding of that important truth. But I’ll spoil one thing reminding you Jesus is our intercessor. His work in the Heavenly sanctuary is not to seek out your destruction, He’s is making a transparent record of our forgiveness! When did this work begin? Why is it neccessary? What does it have to do with me? That is coming soon!
For now, if anyone asks you, what did the Pastor preach about, in summary, Jesus loved me enough to save me, and He’s doing everything in His power to allow us to choose him!
God is good!